Moya Brennan

Maire vs. Moya

I prefer Máire (although I usually type this as Maire. to save time ), as it was how it was spelt, when I first heard of her music. However, I can completely understand why she would change it. For a long time she had to have a new set of middle names - "Máire (pronounced "Moya") Brennan" - and i guess it was easier in the end to go with the flow. I'll probably eventually follow, but I'll stick with Máire/Maire for the time being.

Useless info: My car stereo has a display which shows the artist & song title of the track being played. It seems to get a bit confused by the "á", and so I have quite a lot of songs by "M IRE BRENNAN"

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 11:20 pm

by sarahCat210

I heard of both spellings (Máire and Moya) around the same time. I am sorry if it has been said by other people already, but I think the name "Máire" looks prettier. But when you look at the spelling, "Moya" its easier for people to pronounce. This is just my opinion.

SC

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:02 am

by jpanarese

I personally prefer the Gaelic style, as it just looks exotic and such. However, for pronunciation purposes, as others have stated and I heard Moya say in an interview, the change to Moya is easier on the majority of people...The, Gaelicly challenged, as I've heard someone once say, . (and I am one of those challenged folks).

John

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:11 pm

by Mariusz Maxwell Krause

I prefer Máire. It looks very Irish , there is no connection to Enya really and simply because Máire is the name I know our Celtic lady since 1987. I just get use to it

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:36 pm

by irish at heart

I would say Moya because that's the way I saw it spelled when I first learned of her, but I like both spellings.

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:37 pm

by lilly

I voted for Maire! More Irish that way!

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:40 pm

by Macha

lilly wrote:I voted for Maire! More Irish that way!

Yeah, I also like this spelling more - but I understand, why Moya has changed it. So it's easier to spell her name correctly also for people who don't speak Irish Gaelic.

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 10:58 am

by DeepGirl

I prefer Moya as it is more understandable

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:30 am

by richard

i voted for moya, i like the fact that she has changed it to the way u pronuce it

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:04 pm

by youremyenergy79

I voted MOYA ....because I have had many problems for years..I thought the spelling was "MOIRA"....when I was searching the book TOSOTR in dublin the boy in the book shop didn t understand(mary,maire,moira....)hahahaha
so I said "the voice of CLANNAD!"

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:15 pm

by Methica

I mostly nowadays write Moya, but I prefer Máire, because it´s Irish..

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 5:49 pm

by lothlorien

Máire all the way!!
It just, well, it's just a nice way of writing ( I like gaelic) and that's the real way of writing it and real rules XD
but I can understand why Moya has changed it, Imean ít isnt fun when people almost always pronounce your name wrong..
( I did too )

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 4:38 am

by Elphaba

Marlijn,

This is a very off topic question. I just purchased a beautiful German baby doll and embroidered on her outfit is her name - "Marlijn". I found this forum when I did a google search trying to find out how to pronounce the name. I think it is of Dutch origin - how do you say it? Thank you so much!

Elphaba
"I'm the Wicked Witch of the West... I can do whatever I want!"
(from the Broadway show "WICKED")

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 12:39 pm

by Angoid

Hi Elphaba, and welcome to Moya Brennan's forum!

The name "Moya" is correctly spelled "Máire" but pronounced "Moya". She changed it for publicity purposes because she didn't want anyone to ever call her "Mair" again! As you've probably worked out, it is Irish.

The name "Marlijn" definitely looks Dutch to me, but we do have a number of Dutch folk here who can confirm this for you. It reminds me of the name "Merijn" which I believe is pronounced "Merion", so my guess is that "Marlijn" is pronounced "Marlion". But ..... the Dutch members here can advise better than I can